~£ O \X. 01 * r. to *LLJU_ if. jr. H CJ Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Vol. 'c iLtm-"U| Friday, July 21,2006 50 cents ••UILi. Faith sustained Chemidlin during ordeal He says, 'I have to believe it was the will of God' PyANNAI for a moment (that) I would be pens, it raises faith," said the former THE RECORD-PRESS released," Chemidlin said in an inter- township resident, who is now plan- view last Friday, ning a move to Manhattan. SCOTCH PLAINS — As Michael Though he's finally back home, Chemidlin does not regret his trip Chemidlin lay on the ground in a he's unlikely to ever forget the experi- to the African nation, saying it was dirty prison cell in Sierra Leone, suf- ence, which is fresh in his mind and not his will, but God's. He left the fering from malaria and surrounded has left a mark on his body. Sitting in United States April 13 for what was by murderers, he never questioned an office room at Family Investors, supposed to be a month-long trip to his fate or his reason for being there. where members of his family work, meet with other Christians to start a Even though he faced up to 15 Chemidlin recalled every painful church in Sierra Leone. "I was not years in a foreign prison, Chemidlin moment spent defending his inno- proselytizing," said Chemidlin. "They remained strong in his personal reli- cence. Rubbing his shoulder, he said were already believers." gious faith, despite his weakening he is still sore after prison guards He arrived in Ghana on April 14, physical state and the stress of being repeatedly yanked him up by the ail- attended a religious conference and charged with a crime he did not com- ing arm, as he bounced from prison to then went to Sierra Leone, where he mit. court to a prison hospital before being met with his religious "brothers" who Eighty-two days after he arrived in freed on bail and, finally, for good. had invited him to visit. Included in Africa for a religious trip, the 57-year But the one thing that brought the group were some soldiers he had old was finally freed after espionage him to Sierra Leone, his faith, is met while serving together in the charges were dismissed, fittingly, on stronger than ever. The HtQhland Swim Club team par- the Fourth of July. "I never doubted "Anytime something like this hap- ticipated in the Avon Ocean Swim (Continued on page A-2) MICHAEL CHEMIDLIN on July 8. For more on the team's accomplishments this summer, and a preview of next week's Westfield Downtown 5K and Pizza GOING GREEN SP to contribute Extravaganza, see Sports, Page C-1. to upgrades at Vo-Tech fields Route 22 park will also be improved •y ANNA I authorized Union County to THE RECORD-PRESS apply toward the project $172,500 from an unuBed SCOTCH PLAINS — In 2005 Kids Recreation Trust an effort to get construction Fund grant. In total, the started as soon as possible on township will be contributing a pair of local athletic fields, $424,700 for the improve- the Township Council intro- ments, according to the inter- duced a $257,200 bond ordi- local agreement between nance at a special meeting Scotch Plains and the county, Jl MfQfflfl Tuesday night. though the money from the The bond ordinance will trust fund was originally sup- help fund the municipality's plied by the county. The duCret School of Art in share of improvements to two Upgrades at the Union Plainfield will host a Comics/Sch sites owned by Union County, County Vo-Tech fields have fWantasy Day offering tutorials said Township Manager Tom been on the table for more from the school's faculty on June Atkins. The money will go than three years now, Atkins 29. For details on that event and towards irrigation improve- said during the meeting much more in local arts and enter- ments, installation of a clay Tuesday night, The meeting KEN BUNIEWSKWIPDIGITALSOLUTtONS.COM tainment news, see Prime Time, infield and new lighting at was scheduled at the last beginning on Page B-2. Rebecca Lewie and Laura Surace listen ae Madeline DINardo speaks to local children the baseball and soccer fields minute so a public hearing on Monday about the benefits of plants in controlling pollution and atormwater run-off. at the Union County the bond ordinance can be Vocational-Technical complex held at the Aug. 8 Township on Raritan Road, as well as Council meeting, with con- Program at Fanwood library toward additional irrigation struction to begin shortly improvements at the Route thereafter, 22 Little League Field. At "I don't normally like spe- nearly $300,000, the new cial meetings in the summer, teaches kids about rain gardens lights represent the lion's especially with something By ANNA MMDANOVMCZ effects of fertilizer, pesticide drinking water," said share of the costs. that requires money," said THE RECORD-PRESS and other pollutants. DiNardo. "How can we clean The upgrades represent Mayor Martin Marks. But he Working with a model of a up messy town?" additional work requested by added, "Timing is a factor FANWOOD — Local first community called "Messy After a few incorrect but the township on top of field here.., if we waited until the graders received a special les- Town," Madeline DiNardo imaginative answers — improvements at the two summer was over, the fields son in protecting their drink- and Amy Boyajian of the including "a giant napkin" — complexes that were author- would be sitting (the way ing water and improving the Rutgers Cooperative children learned families ized by the county earlier this they are)." environment Monday after- Research & Extension could install rain gardens in year. And Councilman Frank noon, as they gathered at showed children how pollu- their yards to capture run-off. In addition to the bond Fanwood Memorial Library tants enter stormwater on a They also learned there are a ordinance, municipal officials (Continued on page A-2) to explore the mysteries of daily basis. As Boyajian dust- lot of other little things resi- the rain garden. ed the model town with dents can do to help keep During a presentation by ingredients like dirt and pep- groundwater clean. the Rutgers Cooperative per that represented real pol- Doing a soil test to see how Oral argument set Research & Extension, the lutants such as fertilizer, dog much, if any, fertilizer is going strong children learned about the waste and car oil leaks, stu- needed on lawns, cleaning up Though the summer is almost half library's rain garden, which dents hollered in excitement. after pets, putting up fences on Hillcrest petition over, there may still be some open- directs stormwater from the "Oh no! It really is messy!" around construction sites, fix- ings in the summer camps offered roof to the ground, where it is one first grader yelled as ing cars that have oil leaks Hillcrest's lease for a variety of by the Westfield Area YMCA. For cleaned by native plant Boyajian sprinkled the ingre- and using only as much pesti- THE RECORD-PRESS reasons, said Foley. more details, turn to Page AS. species. The garden was dients on the model town and cide as needed are among the Foley decided last month installed in September; since then sprayed it with water to simple things everyone can WESTFIELD — An oral not to renew the lease with the then, it has effectively represent a rainfall. As chil- do to help, said DiNardo. argument to review the Union UCESC after meeting with absorbed "hundreds of thou- dren watched with rapt "Drainage is a big issue County Educational Services police and after listening to sands of gallons" of rainwa- attention, the water mixed when it comes to building Commission's petition for residents outraged over sever- ter, said David Schwartzberg, with the "pollutants," creat- (honies or additions)," said another year at Lincoln School al incidents involving the a member of the Fanwood ing a dirty liquid. Dan Weiss, Fanwood was scheduled for Thursday, school's students. Hillcrest Pot show Environmental Commission. "All those pollutants are Memorial Library director. •July 20, according to Randi Academy South served about Consisting of a depressed going into the groundwater Bloom of the state's Office of 75 former Elizabeth High at the Hbrary area of mulch, rocks, and 24 and that will be in your (Continued on page A-2) Administrative Law, School students who had been The Westfield Memorial Library will varieties of native plants The session is the first that re-assigned for disciplinary host a pet show for local children at including bald cypress, bee has been scheduled to review reasons. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Advance reg- balm and blue flag iris, the the fate of Hillcrest Academy The UCESC petition asks istration is required, and the dead- rain garden is a "relatively South, after local the state to order the lease line is June 20. For more, contact inexpensive and attractive Superintendent William Foley extended until July 1, 2007; the library at (908) 789-4090 or option" for residents who decided not to renew the com- the most recent lease expired 550 East Broad St. want to capture rain runoff mission's lease for the at the beginning of the month, from their roof, said Westfield Avenue facility. but UCESC officials had antic- Schwartzberg. UCESC filed its petition ipated it would be renewed. The garden was funded by July 3 asking the commission- "The reason there's a need a county grant that was given er of the State Department of to file the appeal is that there to the Rutgers group, said Education to extend the pro- is not sufficient time to find a Schwartzberg.